Genes leading to obesity identified

Health Desk: 15 January 2018: You can blame your genes for your obesity as researchers have found 13 genes that carry variations associated with body mass index (BMI).

The gene is called MC4R and approximately 1 in 5,000 individuals carries this risk copy, which causes the gene not to produce any of the protein needed to inform the brain to stop eating.

The researchers identified 14 genetic variations in 13 genes, including a risky copy variation – a phenomenon in which sections of the genome are repeated – that causes carriers to weigh 15 pounds more, on average, than individuals who do not carry the variation.

“Our study has identified genes that play a crucial role in the neuronal control of body weight. They act in the brain in pathways that may affect people’s food intake, hunger, and satiety,” said Ruth Loos, lead author of the study and professor at The Charles Bronfman Institute for Personalized Medicine at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai.

Knowing the genes and the biological pathways through which they work, researchers believe they are a few steps closer to understanding why some people gain weight more easily than others, which is critical for developing effective treatments.